Georgia Research Alliance

Today brought news of the winners of Georgia Bio’s 2024 “Golden Helix” Awards — and quite a few have GRA connections. Shoutout to our own Connor Seabrook (and Ashley Cornelison, now with Portal Innovations) for being named Community Award winners. Also to GRA-backed startups Micron Biomedical, Inc. and Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (for Private Financing category); and to Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta’s Healthcare of Atlanta (for Public Financing). To all of the other “Golden Helix” winners – congrats! The awards celebrate contributions and achievements by Georgia legislative, academic, corporate, and advocacy leaders working to grow life sciences in our state.

A new diagnostic for sleep apnea is coming your way, and it doesn’t require tubes, hoses and masks: The FDA has just greenlighted SANSA, a device from GRA-backed startup Huxley Medical. It’s a chest patch equipped with patented sensors that generate data for apnea diagnosis. With the 510(k) FDA clearance, Huxley Medical can market the device. The startup launched out of Georgia Tech in 2019. https://bit.ly/46zTE1n

Georgia CEO regularly shares videos of leaders describing how their organizations address critical needs and opportunities in our state. GRA is excited to have President and CEO Tim Denning featured this week!

For cell cultures to grow, the cells need scaffolds to attach to. A new 3D type of scaffold is rolling out this month from GRA-backed startup CytoNest, Inc., and it’s got remarkable versatility. The scaffolds can be used to grow cells for therapeutics, research — even food. CytoNest launched out of The University of Georgia (and is also part of GRA’s Greater Yield portfolio). https://bit.ly/3SDG4Ee

“Game changer” is how President Valerie Montgomery-Rice describes the gift of $175 million to Morehouse School of Medicine. Announced yesterday, the award from Bloomberg Philanthropies will help address “systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities.” The gift also made history: https://bit.ly/3ygV3NG

Good news out of Mercer University yesterday: They’ve received an NIH grant to explore rare stem cells from people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research is expected to advance progress on a new stem cell therapy for IBD. More: https://bit.ly/3WNSpsa

Did you know: Georgia has the third-highest incidence of sickle cell disease in the U.S. It’s a disease that brings great hardship to kids and adults — and disproportionately to African American populations. 1 in 365 Black newborns in the U.S. is diagnosed with sickle cell disease (Source: CDC). With this morning’s naming of the research leader of Georgia’s Solve Sickle Cell Initiative, four state institutions are now building a strong collaboration to find new answers to the disease. More on the initiative: https://bit.ly/3ymkUDQ 

Just in: A new GRA Eminent Scholar has been named to lead Georgia’s Solve Sickle Cell Initiative. Solomon Ofori-Acquah will have a joint appointment at Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and GRA are also partners in the initiative. As the Calvin Smyre Chair for Sickle Cell Research, Ofori-Acquah will spearhead a multi-disciplinary effort to break new ground in knowledge, treatment and cures for the disease. News release: https://bit.ly/3ymkUDQ #GoodforGeorgia

Six weeks from today is Health Connect South 2024, billed as the largest gathering of decision makers, innovators and next-gen healthcare leaders in the Southeast. GRA is proud to be a sponsor, and the featured speaker lineup is impressive. Have a look: https://lnkd.in/dhZ9Qbb

Smart investment in university research facilities and equipment is crucial to our work. We work to get the most from our state dollars by sharing facilities and equipment, which results in outstanding ROI from this vital program.